Manchester United and Chelsea both began this years Champions League campaign with narrow victories, last seasons losing finalists United, faced a stiff test in Turkey versus Besiktas while in a constant downpour, Chelsea played host to Portuguese side Porto.
A well placed header from Paul Scholes made sure the English Champions took home all 3 points but they were not at their best on the night, at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea also had to wait until after the interval before Nicolas Anelka's strike wrapped up the points.
In Group A, Bayern Munich were tested by Israelis Maccabi Haifa Thomas Muller was the difference as he scored twice to seal the 3-0 win for the visitors.
In Group B, Bordeaux visited Juventus and came away with a 1-1 draw a goal from Vincento Iaquinta seemed to have wrapped up the win for the Italians, but Jaroslav Plasil had other ideas, it was his goal that secured a point for the French team.
Wolfsburg made their Champions' League debut by beating CSKA Moscow 3-1, with Brazilian player Grafite scoring a hat-trick for the German side.
In Group C, FC Zurich played host to Real Madrid and found themselves 3-0 down at half-time only to pull back two goals to give the home crowd real hope only for Real to score twice more in a 5-2 win.
Elsewhere in Group C, Marseille suffered a 2-1 home defeat to AC Milan, Fillipo Inzaghi scored both goals for the visitors whilst Gabriel Heinze netted the French sides only goal of the game.
In Chelsea's group, Group D, Athletico Madrid played host to APOEL Nicosia, where the the game finished in a goalless draw.
Tuesday 22 September 2009
Friday 18 September 2009
Is Fernando Torres out of Spain XI?
The Euro 2008 Champions have booked their place for the World Cup and the team maybe one of the most gifted in the world, boasting three great play makers in Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Andres Iniesta as well as one of the hottest forwards in the game in David Villa, can Fernando Torres justify his role in the side?
Despite being seen as the highest profile player for La Furia Roja, he has been struggling for form of late with only nine goals in two years for his country.
Villa has scored the same amount of goals since February. Although appearing in 22 games fewer than Torres since making his debut in 2005, Villa has netted nineteen more goals than the Liverpool forward.
In the last two World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and Estonia, Torres failed to hit the target on many an occasion, opportunities he rarely squanders at Anfield.
If he continues to miss the target for the national side then Vicente del Bosque, Spain's head coach, may be forced to change his strategy, perhaps putting an extra man in midfield, leaving Villa up front alone to spearhead the attack.
And then there's David Silva who played brilliantly last Saturday with Villa against the Belgians.
Now that their place is booked in South Africa, del Bosque will be looking to create a World Cup winning side and it may be that Torres will have to watch it happen from the subs' bench.
Despite being seen as the highest profile player for La Furia Roja, he has been struggling for form of late with only nine goals in two years for his country.
Villa has scored the same amount of goals since February. Although appearing in 22 games fewer than Torres since making his debut in 2005, Villa has netted nineteen more goals than the Liverpool forward.
In the last two World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and Estonia, Torres failed to hit the target on many an occasion, opportunities he rarely squanders at Anfield.
If he continues to miss the target for the national side then Vicente del Bosque, Spain's head coach, may be forced to change his strategy, perhaps putting an extra man in midfield, leaving Villa up front alone to spearhead the attack.
And then there's David Silva who played brilliantly last Saturday with Villa against the Belgians.
Now that their place is booked in South Africa, del Bosque will be looking to create a World Cup winning side and it may be that Torres will have to watch it happen from the subs' bench.
Thursday 17 September 2009
Duff bags the points for Fulham
Two of the three bottom teams in the Premier League met on Sunday, as Fulham hosted Everton at Craven Cottage.
The two clubs began the day with only three points apiece to start the season with only Portsmouth having recorded fewer points thus far and lying in last place.
Even now at this early point of the campaign the pressure was on for both teams, for both teams to show the type of form that pushed them both into a top seven finish last term.
After half an hour of the game the only thing of note was the number of half chances that went begging including two headers from Fulham's Clint Dempsey that both missed the target.
With 15 minutes left in the half Leighton Baines curled a free kick into the Fulham area which Tim Cahill duly slotted into the goal for an Everton lead, that they held onto until the half-time interval.
After a good period of pressure Fulham received the kind of luck they deserved when a great shot from Paul Konchesky took a wicked deflection off Sylvain Distin and flew into the Everton goal.
The Merseysiders were on the ascendancy as went looking to retake the lead until a great run from Damien Duff opened up the defence and allowed him to score Fulham's second into the top corner.
Everton nearly levelled straight away due to a piece of sloppy defending, but none of Everton's strikers could finish the job.
It finished 2-1 to Fulham, their first victory since the opening weekend of the season.
The two clubs began the day with only three points apiece to start the season with only Portsmouth having recorded fewer points thus far and lying in last place.
Even now at this early point of the campaign the pressure was on for both teams, for both teams to show the type of form that pushed them both into a top seven finish last term.
After half an hour of the game the only thing of note was the number of half chances that went begging including two headers from Fulham's Clint Dempsey that both missed the target.
With 15 minutes left in the half Leighton Baines curled a free kick into the Fulham area which Tim Cahill duly slotted into the goal for an Everton lead, that they held onto until the half-time interval.
After a good period of pressure Fulham received the kind of luck they deserved when a great shot from Paul Konchesky took a wicked deflection off Sylvain Distin and flew into the Everton goal.
The Merseysiders were on the ascendancy as went looking to retake the lead until a great run from Damien Duff opened up the defence and allowed him to score Fulham's second into the top corner.
Everton nearly levelled straight away due to a piece of sloppy defending, but none of Everton's strikers could finish the job.
It finished 2-1 to Fulham, their first victory since the opening weekend of the season.
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Chelsea's transfer ban
FIFA have announced that Chelsea will be banned from signing players during the next two transfer windows, due to the London club being found guilty of inducing a player to break his contract.
The ban means that the club will not be able to sign any new players until January 2011.
In the middle of all the furore is former Lens player Gael Kakuta who was adjudged to have broken his contract with the French club when he signed for Chelsea.
FIFA published a statement on it's own official website which announced the decision of the Dispute Resolution Chamber announcing huge penalties for both Chelsea Football Club and the player in question.
The statement read "The DRC has indeed found that the player breached his contract with Lens and that the breach was indeed induced by the English club."
"As a result both player and club are jointly liable to pay compensation of €780,000 to the French club."
"There will also be sporting sanctions placed on the player and the club, a restriction of 4 months on his eligibility to play in official matches has been imposed on the player and the club will be banned from registering any new players for the next two consecutive transfer windows."
Kakuta, who at just 18 years old has yet to make an appearance for the first team was the club's Academy player of the year last season.
Since signing for the club he has made a very bright start and a lot is expected of him.
The ban means that the club will not be able to sign any new players until January 2011.
In the middle of all the furore is former Lens player Gael Kakuta who was adjudged to have broken his contract with the French club when he signed for Chelsea.
FIFA published a statement on it's own official website which announced the decision of the Dispute Resolution Chamber announcing huge penalties for both Chelsea Football Club and the player in question.
The statement read "The DRC has indeed found that the player breached his contract with Lens and that the breach was indeed induced by the English club."
"As a result both player and club are jointly liable to pay compensation of €780,000 to the French club."
"There will also be sporting sanctions placed on the player and the club, a restriction of 4 months on his eligibility to play in official matches has been imposed on the player and the club will be banned from registering any new players for the next two consecutive transfer windows."
Kakuta, who at just 18 years old has yet to make an appearance for the first team was the club's Academy player of the year last season.
Since signing for the club he has made a very bright start and a lot is expected of him.
Man United in new controversy
Serie 'A' club Fiorentina have made a formal complaint to FIFA concerning the Premiership clubs signing of 16 year-old defender Michele Fornasier.
Only days after United threatened legal action against French side Le Havre concerning the controversy over the signing of Paul Pogba.
According to 'The Times' La Viola have not yet finished their submission that they intend to hand to the governing body of world football and the details of the complaint that the Tuscan side have made are as yet unclear.
In a recently released statement, FIFA said that "We have been recently contacted by Italian side Fiorentina, with relation to the transfer of Michele Fornasier to the English club Manchester United."
"But no investigation has begun at this time since any relevant documentation has not been completed as yet."
By law, Italian clubs are not permitted to sign players to a contract if they are 18 years of age and it is understood that Manchester United have exploited this law in the past to sign players.
Le Havre claim that United made cash inducements to Pogba's parents to persuade him to sign for the Old Trafford club a claim that Manchester United feel confident of being found completely innocent.
The fresh claims raise fears that United will be punished similarly to Chelsea who were found guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract.
Only days after United threatened legal action against French side Le Havre concerning the controversy over the signing of Paul Pogba.
According to 'The Times' La Viola have not yet finished their submission that they intend to hand to the governing body of world football and the details of the complaint that the Tuscan side have made are as yet unclear.
In a recently released statement, FIFA said that "We have been recently contacted by Italian side Fiorentina, with relation to the transfer of Michele Fornasier to the English club Manchester United."
"But no investigation has begun at this time since any relevant documentation has not been completed as yet."
By law, Italian clubs are not permitted to sign players to a contract if they are 18 years of age and it is understood that Manchester United have exploited this law in the past to sign players.
Le Havre claim that United made cash inducements to Pogba's parents to persuade him to sign for the Old Trafford club a claim that Manchester United feel confident of being found completely innocent.
The fresh claims raise fears that United will be punished similarly to Chelsea who were found guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract.
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